Community support to families living with HIV in London: an agency overview.

In 1996 a structured questionnaire, relating to services provided, was completed by 12 agencies providing support to families with HIV in London. A wide range of information, practical and therapeutic services were available from these agencies but these usually had a primary focus on supporting the adults in these families. Only one agency had been set up specifically to offer a direct service for children within their own home or community. Services for children within most agencies consisted of organized child care or social activities, often provided to enable parents to access other services at the centre. Concern was frequently expressed that the normal and emotional needs, especially of older children, were not being met. Many children attending events at these agencies were unaware of the diagnosis or the reasons for attending these centres. Implications are discussed on how future development of services in the voluntary and statutory sector will need to address the specific and changing needs of infected and affected children.